Affordable Housing Doesn’t Hurt Neighborhoods—Fear Does

How would you react if someone started building affordable housing right in front of you? I’ve lived in Section 8 housing. I’ve also lived down the street from it.

And I’ve spent my career helping communities navigate the fears, myths, and tough conversations that surface every time new affordable homes are proposed.

Before defaulting to a hard “no,” here’s what I wish more people knew:
➡️ 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝’𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 - 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬.
Research on LIHTC developments shows they’ve been associated with a 3.8% increase in nearby property values (Source: An urban.org study in 2022).

➡️ 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐬.
Families in affordable housing are teachers, EMTs, warehouse workers, veterans, grandparents raising grandkids - people already woven into the community’s fabric. Safe, stable housing simply gives them room to breathe.

➡️ 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐬.
Parks, libraries, retail, schools - none of it happens without people having homes they can afford.

While this is my lived experience … on both sides of the door, it's also what I've seen happen when people seek out facts over fear.

Neighborhoods grow.
Kids get a fair shot.
Local businesses strengthen.

If you’ve ever hesitated about new affordable housing near you, I get it.

But maybe the question isn’t “Why here?”
Maybe the statement should be “It's about time”

We all have influence.
How are you choosing to use yours when it comes to housing?